What Do You Do When They Think It's "Real"

[Voob]

I do a lot of private lessons (not magic) at my place at most of the students like magic, so I can try out stuff daily, if I want.

Some of them are borderline "believers" too, so in class when I occasionally hear something a bit "woo-woo", I do some magic while mentioning that I don't have supernatural powers, nor do I believe that they exist.

I blew this former Sai Baba follower's mind one night...

I can't count the number of times I've been asked, "Was that...a trick?!?"
"Um....yes..."

A couple lines I love and use (paraphrased):

"If <--insert irresponsible immoral person's name here> is using supernatural powers, then he's doing it the hard way."
"I use the five senses to create the illusion of a sixth." (Not a lie, yet somewhat more mysterious and less boring/rude than "It ain't real, dummy!")

What do you say?
I have a feeling this reaction is more common in Japan than it is in the West, but anyway...

[Lavie Enrose]

Originally posted by Voob
What do you say?
I have a feeling this reaction is more common in Japan than it is in the West, but anyway...

I'm sure every good magician at some time or another will encounter at least one person who will believe that what was done was 'real'. Mental Magic draws the biggest number of those who believe it is real (in North America).

Sometimes, it is hard to know what to say, as some people will believe no matter what you tell them. I'm sure Randi has a lot of stories on this subject from his years of performing magic!

I usually tell them it was just a trick, or 'the hard way' line. I have not run into anyone who really believes yet, but it might happen. I have had someone accuse me (in jest, but said quiet seriously) of doing the Devil's work. I was very surprised at first, as I thought the person was serious, but then the smile came, so I knew it was a joke. I don't know how I would have reacted if she had been serious.

You get the 'woo-woo' type believers, and the ones like Penn found one night:

Butcher Penn (http://www.pennandteller.com/03/coolstuff/penniphile/butcherpenn.html)

[Garrette]

I form a cult and sleep with the good looking ones.

[Randy with a "Y"]

Once, a long time ago I was doing some parlor tricks at the home of a Korean family. It was just your standard sleight of hand stuff. Nothing special. I was preforming especially well that night. After I was finished the father asked me, "Isn't it against your religion to do magic?"

I was perplexed at first. I couldn't figure out what he meant until I realized he thought I was claiming to have powers "like unto God". My head was spinning for a second.

I finally got my wits and told him, "No. I don't preform real magic. (Magick?) What I do is a learned skill similar to musician playing the violin... Strictly for the purpose of entertainment."

We talked for a minute and I finally taught him to vanish a coin from under a scarf. He was pleased with himself. I got myself out of a potentially sticky situation. Everybody was happy! :)

[Dids]

I'll piggy-back a new question onto this thread, as it touches on a couple of magic-related things that have been bothering me lately. Note, I am no magician, past having read a few popular paperbacks on simple tricks when I was a kid.

First, is there no similar code of conduct to the Magic Circle for Japanese magicians? I've now twice seen Japan's "most famous magician", Mr Malic (Marick?) doing specials where the audience/guests guess how he's doing tricks to win money, followed by a display of how he does them, complete with reverse camera angles, and detailed tips from the man himself - most of the tricks seem average $10 magic shop purchases.

Second, since you do magic in Japan Voob, do a lot of people really believe it to be true, as in the work of the devil, or spirits, or whatever? Or am I just falling for the dubbed-over "Ooooo!!"s I hear on these shows? In the above-mentioned show last night, Mr Malik did a trick by "inserting" a coin "halfway through" a 10,000 yen note and moving it around. It's blatently obvious how it's done yet the reaction was as if he'd re-animated a zombie army to do his bidding, or something.

[Voob]

Mr. Maric seems to expose tricks that are not among the top, most often performed effects going around. I don't know if they're public domain or what....
I still don't like it, mind you.
I guess, if there's any good to come out of it, maybe some potential "believers" will realize how easily they can be fooled.
Shoot Ogawa, who I believe is working in the States, was on t.v. years ago exposing all kinds of card magic. Pretty guarded secrets, too.

Second, since you do magic in Japan Voob, do a lot of people really believe it to be true,

I still think that most people, deep down, don't believe it's true.
Let's just say some are very open to the possibility.

I don't think there's anybody who just walks away believing, without at least asking "Was that..a trick?"
or my favourite:
"Why???" (mistaken translation for "how")

But I do meet a few people who are obviously willing to believe whatever they are told. Just like on t.v.!
Fortunately, Spiderman has taught me 'With great power comes great responsibility.'

as in the work of the devil, or spirits, or whatever?

I don't think anybody equates it with the devil.
Even the few people who truly believe it's real don't think through the ramifications of their beliefs far beyond "he's got magic powers".

That's a fault of most woo-woos, come to think of it: Not identifying and addressing all the ramifications of their beliefs.
...getting a bit off-topic here...where am i....blacking out...

(ps: I'm not a real magician, just some amateur guy who whips out the cards now and then at the bar.)